Boyfriend got screwed over

[aelliflame]

This isn't really my story although I was there for it. My boyfriend had just got his tax refund check in the mail and had enough in the bank with that to get a laptop he wanted as well as to take me out to the Olive Garden (he then had cash to buy food until he got payed again). So we went out to the Olive Garden and our server was a pretty great lady over all, she refilled our drinks, seemed really nice, and got our food to us in a quick manner. At this point it doesn't seem like a sighting. She was so nice that he gave her a pretty nice tip that he could still afford and wouldn't make him broke.

Well after he bought the laptop and the two purchases went through, he checked his bank's website and the Olive Garden meal was $10 more than what it was when we left with the tip included. He knew he would be fine with what he tipped, but since the rest of his money was cash the $10 put him $1 over what he had in the bank and now he has to pay a $40 overdraft fee which means that the money he had left is pretty much gone. He doesn't want to go up there and cause a scene because he's worried that the waitress covered her tracks and managed to switch up the numbers on the reciept (like turn a 3 into a 9 or a 0 into an 8). He really doesn't want to throw a fit, but this really messed up his finances so I think he needs to let them know.

[the lawsmeister]

the Olive Garden meal was $10 more than what it was when we left with the tip included.

He doesn't want to go up there and cause a scene because he's worried that the waitress covered her tracks and managed to switch up the numbers on the reciept (like turn a 3 into a 9 or a 0 into an 8). He really doesn't want to throw a fit, but this really messed up his finances so I think he needs to let them know.

Hell, throw a fit, This is fraud plain and simple. If you have a copy of the receipt showing what you agreed to pay and they have a copy showing something different then someone has been messing with the numbers and has stolen $10 from you (well your boyfriend) and caused a fine of $40 to be charged by the bank.
Be polite but be firm and give them hell.
I think you deserve the $50 that you are out of pocket and the waitress or whoever did this needs to be put in their place.

[Sheldonrs]

Did he keep the receipt?

[Sunsetsky]

I would throw a fit. If he still has the receipt he should go back and complain to management. If the waitress did this to him then she's probably doing it to other people. If complaining doesn't work then he might be able to dispute the charges with his bank.

[aelliflame]

Did he keep the receipt?

Yeah, but it's possible that he didn't put down the tip which would be the problem.

[Mystic]

This is why I always write down the total on the receipt I get as well. That way if someone ever tried to change numbers on my receipt, I take my copy in and show them that the totals are different than what I have on mine, written with the same pen.

If they still do nothing, I dispute it with the bank and they lose out.

This is fraud, plain and simple. And now he's being forced to pay $40 overdraft because of someone elses greed. I would contact the bank, let them know what happened and see if they will waive the fee. Then I would go speak to the manager at Olive Garden and inform him of the fraudulent charge and demand the money back.

[bainsidhe]

Complain. Either something is messed up with the computer or someone is tweeking the numbers to their advantage. Either situation is wrong and should be immediately addressed.

Did your BF keep the receipt? Even without a tip value written down, this will help support his complaint. It will list date, time and server number on the receipt. It will also make things easier for management to pull the original and learn if it was altered or if BF wrote the wrong amount.

[MaggieTheCat]

I don't have anything to add that hasn't already been said by others before me, so I'll just throw in my vote that you do need to take action and don't let this slide.

[boringscreenname]

I would explain the situation to the bank first and ask if they would be willing to waive the fee.

I'd also hold onto the receipt and show it to the Manager at Olive Garden, and have him tell them, he wants his money back, and did not agree to pay this amount. If they still throw a fit threaten to dispute it with the bank, they'll usually back right down then.

If not then absolutely dispute it with the bank, and make sure to send in copies of the receipt, detail the situation, and the actions you took to try and correct it with Olive Garden.

I always write the tip, plus total on the receipt, so that there's no confusion. And if I plan on leaving the tip in cash, I either write cash or $0, and I put a diagonal slash through the 0 so it can't be changed to another number.

[Racket_Man]

You should be able to go back to Olive Garden and view their copy of the CC receipt (I think by law they have to keep them achieved ON_SITE for like 18 - 24 months just in case there IS a problem). there is the other possiblility that since he used a debt card the banking system put a hold on extra $$$$'s to cover a tip.

this is THE reason both at work and in my personal dealing I ALWAYS want a fully filled out CC receipt in their/my handwriting

when doing delivery, I MAKE the customer fillout the CC receipt completely (even IF they are going to outright stiff me) in ink. Then this way there is NO doubt. some customers just want to sign the CC slip but I MAKE them fill it out completely both the tip AND total line. If I was a dishonest (but smart) person I could, on a random basis, do what happened to your BF at the Garden ie. adding my own tip onto the CC slip (but I am an honest person so that will never happen)

[aelliflame]

He just got in contact with the bank about the entire thing and they pretty much said too bad we don't care. I don't think this is going to be fixed in any way that's good. He's too used to bad things happening so he doesn't want to fight because he thinks he'll lose.

[elsporko]

He probably loses because he doesn't fight. Have him take it up with Olive Garden. I'm sure the manager would like to know he has a waitress that steals from customers. Its probably causing him business.

[Megg]

If she did this to him, she does it to many people every day. I have seen it, firsthand. If he does not call the restaurant, it will be like giving her permission to steal from not only him, but others as well. She needs to be stopped - people like her give the rest of all servers a bad name. Hell, PM me the details and I will call the Olive Garden! This makes me so angry, I hate thieves. She is a thief, and the manager will not likely stand for his employee being a thief.

[persephone]

I agree he should go to Olive Garden and see, from their print out, the total amount charged and see what the tip charged was. If it was over what he left her, he should fight tooth and nail.

However, is there a possibility that the amount from Olive Garden is the "hold" amount and not what was actually charged? I know that some cards will have that hold amount take you into overdraft, even if the amount actually charged was less. Sometimes the restaurant system and the bank system don't synch up for a couple of day.

[wildman]

Yes, It may be a hold charge. I went dancing at a club awhile back and paid for a beer with my debit card. When I checked my account the next day there was a $50 hold charge on there from the club. A day later it was gone and only the charge for the beer was listed.